Trump administration revokes Biden-era TPS protections for Haitians, paving way for deportations
- The Trump administration has canceled the 18-month extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians.
- The move will approximately 500,000 individuals who will lose their protected status by August, contrary to the February extension granted by the Biden administration.
- This decision reflects Trump’s stringent immigration policies, particularly targeting individuals who were previously allowed to remain in the U.S. under the Biden administration
- The revocation of TPS protections is sparking significant concern among advocates and legal experts, given Haiti’s current state of political instability, economic hardship and violence, which raises questions about the safety of deported individuals.
- The decision deeply affects half a million Haitian national in the United States – including Sherika Blanc, a mother of four U.S.-born children who now face the prospect of deportation.
In a significant shift in immigration policy, the administration of President Donald Trump announced on Thursday, Feb. 20, that it is canceling the 18-month extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals residing in the United States, a move granted by former President Joe Biden.
This decision, signed by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, affects an estimated 500,000 Haitians who will lose their protected status by August, rather than February of next year, potentially clearing the way for their deportation. The revocation of TPS protections for Haitians marks a continuation of Trump’s aggressive stance on immigration, particularly against individuals whom the Biden administration had authorized to remain in the country.
The decision comes at a time when Haiti continues to grapple with profound political instability, economic hardship and ongoing violence, raising concerns among advocates and legal experts about the humanitarian implications.
Haitian nationals have been eligible for TPS protections since 2010, following a devastating earthquake that left the Caribbean nation in ruins. The Obama administration first extended TPS to Haitians to provide a safe haven for those displaced by the disaster. The protections, which are intended to be temporary, allow individuals to remain in the United States and obtain work permits while their home country recovers from natural disasters or other crises.
However, the Trump administration argues that the TPS program has been misused, with many recipients remaining in the U.S. well beyond the intended temporary relief period. Critics of the TPS program, including Trump, have long contended that it has become a de facto pathway for permanent residency, deviating from its original purpose.
The abrupt termination of TPS protections for Haitians has sparked outrage and legal challenges. Advocacy groups and immigration attorneys argue that the decision is not only cruel but also illegal, given the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Haiti. Emi MacLean, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Northern California, stated, “TPS. has served as a crucial lifeline for many members of the Haitian community, allowing them to live and work in the United States at a time when Haiti is experiencing tremendous political, social and economic instability.”
Ahilan Arulanantham, a leading immigration law expert at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), echoed these sentiments, saying, “The decision to cut down the time Haitians would be protected is against the law and could have vast consequences. The conditions in Haiti make it unsafe for these individuals to return.”
Personal stories and uncertainty
For Haitian immigrants like Sherika Blanc, a 34-year-old woman who has had protected status since 2010 and is a mother of four U.S.-born children, the decision is nothing short of devastating.
Blanc, who was previously a plaintiff in a lawsuit that blocked the Trump administration’s 2018 attempt to revoke TPS for Haitians, expressed deep concern and uncertainty about her future. “My heart is breaking and just that uncertainty of what could happen and the conditions of Haiti right now,” Blanc said. “Basically, we’re not wanted.”
The uncertainty is compounded by the lack of clarity on whether Noem will renew the protections for Haitians once the August deadline is reached. For now, the fate of 500,000 Haitians hangs in the balance, with the potential for forced deportations looming on the horizon. (Related: Haitian illegals departing Springfield, Ohio over fears of Trump’s MASS DEPORTATION policies.)
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Sources include:
TheNationalPulse.com
NYTimes.com
Brighteon.com
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